Islamic clerics in Katsina State have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027, pledging to mobilise support for his second-term bid across their communities.
The clerics, numbering 1,121, comprised members of the Qadiriyya and Tijaniyya Sufi orders, the Izala movement, as well as male, female and youth Islamic scholars, according to the organisers.
They made the declaration on Sunday in Katsina while hosting the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Kabiru Masari.
Speakers at the gathering urged the religious leaders to communicate their position to their followers and explain the reasons for supporting the President.
The convener and former head of the Katsina State Hisbah Board, Dr Aminu Usman, popularly known as Abu Ammar, said the clerics had deliberated on the matter before deciding to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“We all agreed that our support and commitment during the coming election in 2027 is to give our total support to Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
He described the endorsement as a collective decision and urged the clerics to mobilise support for the President ahead of the next general election.
“We are in this position because we believe in all that we are doing, that we are not doing it for any selfish interest, but for the best interest of the Nigerian nation,” he added.
Usman subsequently asked participants who supported the endorsement to raise their hands, with the gathering expressing its approval through a show of hands.
Speaking at the event, Professor Abdulaziz Mashi said the endorsement was informed by the need for continuity in some of the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration.
“Our collective position is to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, so that he can complete the programme and direction he has set for the country.
“I urge you clerics to assess the administration’s performance objectively, particularly in education and infrastructure,” he said, while acknowledging the challenges that remained.
Mashi, a university lecturer, recalled the difficulties previously experienced by university workers, including issues relating to salaries and staff welfare.
“Today, there are developments that we believe deserve recognition. We should acknowledge the efforts being made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even as we continue to discuss the challenges that remain,” he stated.
He also cited infrastructure projects, including the proposed railway connection between Nigeria and Maradi in Niger Republic, as developments that deserved consideration.
The professor urged the clerics to rely on facts rather than rumours and political propaganda when assessing government policies.
He called on the religious leaders, women, civil servants and community representatives present at the gathering to take the message to their respective communities.
“When you return home, you should communicate the message to the people in your neighbourhoods, communities and local areas,” he said.
Mashi added that those who disagreed with the endorsement were entitled to their opinions, stressing the need for responsible communication and informed public debate.
Another speaker, the Chairman of the Muslim Intellectual Forum, Professor Abdullahi Pakistan, highlighted insecurity and economic hardship as major challenges confronting Nigerians.
He acknowledged that the Tinubu administration inherited some security challenges, while others had persisted or emerged during its tenure.
According to him, some improvements had been recorded in security, particularly in the ability of people to travel in certain areas compared with previous periods.
He, however, urged Nigerians to continue praying for peace and greater improvements in the country’s security situation.
Pakistan also called on the clerics to apply wisdom and sound judgment when discussing national affairs, drawing on the Qur’an, Hadith and other sources of knowledge.
Responding, Masari appealed to the imams and other religious leaders to communicate the decision to their congregations and encourage eligible voters to support Tinubu.
“I want to appeal to imams and other religious leaders to communicate the decision to your congregations and encourage eligible voters to support Tinubu,” he said.
He said the clerics should carry out the responsibility in the interest of the country rather than for personal gain.
Masari added that religious leaders had a responsibility to communicate what they believed to be the truth to the public, noting that their influence could shape voters’ understanding of national issues.
The 2027 general election is expected to determine whether Tinubu secures a second four-year term as President of Nigeria.